AYAM™ values resources and environment, and believes that the whole product should be used in the process to limit waste. As part of this commitment, AYAM™ is engaged in a long term production program to reduce waste and carbon footprint.

For AYAM™ coconut range: AYAM™ factory process the whole coconut (water, oil, milk and cream) and the only waste, the coconut shell, is collected and used for the burners to replace usual fossil energy, such as oil or gas.

In the case of AYAM™ fish factory, AYAM™ is working on special machinery that will process the rejects to produce Fish Hydrolyzed Protein for the pharmaceutical industry.

AYAM™ minimize packaging and work mostly with simple packaging material like tin, glass or paper, which are 100% recyclable.

ABOUT OUR COCONUT MILK/CREAM

There has been indeed an overwhelming debate for the past few years on the safety of BPA with conflicting scientific opinions.

The purpose of the lining in canned product is to protect food from contamination from the metal of the can and to extend the shelf-life. The epoxy lining, which contains Bisphenol A (BPA), currently applied to our cans complies with the EU directive 2004/19/EC. This directive establishes a specific migration limit (SML) on Bisphenol A migration into foodstuffs or food stimulants of 0.6 mg/kg of food.

We have tested the level of migration into the Premium coconut milk and cream and no BPA was detected. The test used had a detection limit of 0.5 mg/kg.

Our company closely monitors the outcome of assessments done by food safety agencies such as the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), The German Society of Toxicology, the UK Food Standard Agency (FSA) , the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Health Canada, the USFDA and the decisions made by the governments. The latest developments are as follows:

In April 2011, the German Society of Toxicology concluded that the current tolerable daily intake (TDI) level, which was set at 0.05 milligram/kg body weight (bw), was justified and that available evidence indicates BPA exposure represents no significant risk to human health, including to babies. In December 2011, the EFSA reconfirmed its opinion that BPA was safe at the levels the people are exposed to.

Meanwhile, because of the consumer concerns on BPA, the can manufacturers are developing BPA-NI cans (new term in the industry for lining produced without BPA). Our aim is to offer all Ayam Brand products in BPA-NI cans, however, as consumer safety is our utmost priority, we will only be able to do so when the new linings have been thoroughly tested and proven to be safe. At this stage, we envisage the move to BPA-NI cans to occur October 2015 however, we will ensure to communicate the final launch date when confirmed.

We pride ourself on being 100% natural, and we do not use thickeners or whiteners in our coconut milk or cream. Other companies use ingredients such as xanthan gum, guar gum, modified starch etc in order to stop the product from separating. As a premium coconut cream brand, we do not use these ingredients. It is for this reason that we would advise you not to freeze the Coconut Milk, as this will change and affect the product’s physical characteristic and cause oil separation. However, once opened, the unused balance can be transferred to a plastic container and refrigerated, make sure to use within 3 days.

Contrary to the name, Coconut Milk and Cream contain no milk or cream. Due to the white, opaque appearance of the coconut extract, it is called a “milk” and “cream”, but contains no dairy products at all. The only Coconut product that contains milk is the Coconut Milk Powder, which contains a milk protein (sodium caseinate).

Being a 100% natural product the Coconut Milk and Cream have a low solidifying temperature of around 14°C, so if the temperature falls below this, the contents may solidify. This does not affect the quality of the product, and does not mean that the product has curdled. Simply sit the closed can in a bowl of boiling water to bring back to a liquid state, and shake before opening. Alternatively, you can simply spoon the solidified milk or cream into your dish. Coconut Milk is best stored in a pantry, or a dark cool area out of the sun, to keep it in a liquid state.

Coconut milks and creams are not always plain white but can have a slightly grey shade, which can be corrected by adding chemical whitening agents. Being 100% pure and natural, and free from whiteners, AYAM™ Coconut Milk and Cream may have a slightly off-white colour.

Coconut Milk or Cream is not the watery liquid inside the coconut. To obtain milk or cream, the coconut is peeled and its flesh cut into pieces before being crushed. The extract obtained is boiled, homogenised, filtered, canned and sterilised. For cream, the process is carried on for longer, which makes it more concentrated.

The fat found in Coconut Milk and Cream is a saturated fat, but unlike most saturated fats it is comprised from Medium Chain Triglycides. Coconut Milk and Cream is a rich source of lauric acid, which can also be found in cow’s milk, goat’s milk and human breast milk. Lauric acid is converted by the body into a substance called monolaurin, which strengthens the immune system. As with all other good fats found in avocadoes, nuts and seeds, we should only consume fats in moderation to achieve a healthy and balanced diet.

ABOUT OUR QUALITY

Each can of Thai Satay Sauce contains a stalk of lemongrass. This should be left in the sauce during cooking, and removed before serving. Cooking the satay sauce with the stalk of lemongrass will allow the flavour to infuse into the sauce, giving it a distinctly Thai taste. Much like a bay leaf or curry leaf, you should remove before serving as it is too strong to eat.

As a guide, we would recommend that you use any of the 210ml sauces within 1 month of opening, and store in the refrigerator, which will keep it at its highest quality.

It may keep for longer than this, but we would recommend that you use your judgment as to whether it is safe for consumption by checking for any signs of spoilage like a different smell, texture, separation or change in colour. It is also highly recommended that you throw the bottle and any remaining contents away after it has past the best before date printed on the bottle.

Our Asian sauces range has ‘no added MSG’ which means there is no MSG used or added on the ingredients or sub-ingredients used in the formulation. However, some ingredients like soya bean (which is used for the soya sauce fermentation) and yeast extract have naturally occurring Glutamic acid.

AYAM™ has, for many years, implemented a responsible policy for the use of palm oil, by replacing it, wherever technically possible, by alternative vegetable oils with a healthier nutrient profile. For the few AYAM™ products still using palm oil, our factories only source segregated certified sustainable palm oil of West Malaysian origin.

Our products are unique that we do not use additives such as stabilizers and emulsifiers to stabilize our products because of our unique processing method. This is also the reason why we mention on our labels that some natural separation can occur and one should shake the can rigorously before opening.